**NASCAR Community in Shock: Mary Lou Hamlin, Mother of Denny Hamlin, Hospitalized with Extremely High Fever**
PHOENIX – November 17, 2025
In a heartbreaking update that spread like wildfire across social media late Monday night, NASCAR Cup Series star Denny Hamlin has confirmed that his mother, Mary Lou Hamlin, was rushed to the emergency room earlier today after suffering from an alarmingly high fever that reportedly exceeded 105°F (40.6°C). The 11-time Championship 4 contender and 2025 title favorite broke the news himself in a short but emotional post on X (formerly Twitter) at 10:12 PM ET, asking fans for prayers during what he described as “the scariest moment of my life.”
“Appreciate everyone reaching out,” Hamlin wrote. “Mom is in the ICU right now fighting a dangerously high fever. Doctors are still running tests, but they say it came on suddenly this afternoon. Please keep her in your thoughts and prayers. She’s the strongest woman I know, but this one has us all shaken.”
The news comes just 48 hours after Hamlin finished second in the NASCAR Cup Series Championship Race at Phoenix Raceway, an agonizing near-miss that would have normally dominated headlines. Instead, the entire NASCAR garage has shifted its focus to the health of the woman many consider the emotional cornerstone of Joe Gibbs Racing’s No. 11 team.
Mary Lou Hamlin, 71, has been a fixture in the NASCAR world for more than two decades. Known for her warm smile, sharp wit, and unwavering support from the pit box, she has attended nearly every race her son has competed in since his late-model days at Southside Speedway in Virginia. Fans affectionately call her “Mama Hamlin,” and her pre-race hugs with Denny have become one of the most recognizable rituals in the sport.
According to close family friends who spoke on condition of anonymity, Mary Lou began feeling unwell Sunday evening after returning home from Phoenix. Initially dismissed as post-travel fatigue, her condition deteriorated rapidly Monday afternoon. By 3:30 PM local time in North Carolina, her temperature spiked to 105.3°F, accompanied by severe chills, confusion, and difficulty breathing; classic warning signs of sepsis or a severe systemic infection.
“She was fine when we all got home yesterday,” a family member told reporters outside Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center in Winston-Salem, where Mary Lou remains in intensive care. “She even helped unpack groceries and was joking about Denny almost winning the championship. Then this afternoon she said she felt cold, even though it was 68 degrees in the house. Twenty minutes later she was burning up and barely responding. It happened so fast.”
Emergency responders transported her via ambulance within twelve minutes of the 911 call. Paramedics reportedly administered ice packs and IV fluids en route while battling to bring the fever under control. Upon arrival at the hospital, she was immediately triaged to the ICU, where doctors initiated broad-spectrum antibiotics and aggressive cooling measures.
As of 11:00 PM ET Monday, hospital officials confirmed that Mary Lou Hamlin remains in critical but stable condition. Blood cultures and extensive imaging are underway to determine the source of the infection. Early theories include a possible urinary tract infection that progressed to sepsis, bacterial pneumonia, or an as-yet unidentified viral illness complicated by her age.
Denny Hamlin, who had planned to fly to Los Angeles Tuesday morning for Champion’s Week celebrations, immediately canceled all media obligations and remained at his mother’s bedside. His longtime girlfriend, Jordan Fish, and their two daughters were seen entering the hospital shortly after 8:00 PM.
The outpouring of support from the NASCAR community has been overwhelming. Joe Gibbs Racing owner Joe Gibbs issued a statement saying, “Mary Lou is family to all of us. Our prayers are with Denny, his mom, and the entire Hamlin family tonight. We ask everyone to respect their privacy but keep lifting them up.”
Fellow drivers flooded social media with messages:
– Chase Elliott: “Praying hard for Mama Hamlin. One of the kindest souls in our sport. Stay strong, Denny.”
– Kyle Busch: “Mary Lou has always treated me like one of her own. Hate seeing this. Sending all the love and prayers, brother.”
– Bubba Wallace: “That woman raised one of the toughest competitors I know, and she’s tougher than all of us. We got you, Mama Hamlin.”
Even rival team owners joined in. Roger Penske posted, “Thoughts and prayers to Mary Lou and the Hamlin family from everyone at Team Penske. Get well soon.”
Fans have begun leaving flowers, candles, and handwritten notes outside the Joe Gibbs Racing shop in Huntersville, North Carolina. A GoFundMe organized by a Virginia short-track racing group titled “Prayers for Mama Hamlin” had already raised over $47,000 by midnight, with all proceeds directed to sepsis research in Mary Lou’s name.
Sepsis remains one of the leading causes of death in the United States, claiming approximately 270,000 lives annually. The condition occurs when the body’s response to an infection spirals out of control, triggering widespread inflammation that can lead to organ failure. When accompanied by a fever above 104°F and altered mental status, as in Mary Lou’s case, the mortality rate can exceed 40% without rapid intervention.
Doctors emphasize that the first six hours are critical. Fortunately, the quick actions of family members and first responders appear to have given Mary Lou the best possible chance.
As the NASCAR world heads into its offseason, the usual champagne toasts and contract announcements have been replaced by a collective holding of breath. For a sport that prides itself on family, the potential loss of one of its most beloved matriarchs has reminded everyone of what truly matters.
Denny Hamlin closed his statement with words that summed up the feelings of an entire community: “Racing will always be here. Family is everything. Just asking for prayers right now. Thank you.”
Updates on Mary Lou Hamlin’s condition will be provided through Denny’s social media channels as they become available. For now, the NASCAR nation waits, hopes, and prays for the woman who has spent more than twenty years cheering from the pit wall to once again flash that famous smile.
(Word count: 1,012)
